A keeper of books

It wasn't just books and reading yesterday when Wendy Wendt direct or the Grand Forks Public Library spoke during Literary Lunches. She offered encouragement and advice to students.

"As you're thinking about your careers, think about what you really like to do," she said.  Wendt liked to read as a child but never thought anyone could work in a library, something she now does and loves.

Wendt read from The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick, an author perhaps best known for Freak the Mighty.

And Wendt highlighted upcoming events such as The Big Read with an appearance by Tim O'Brien and a discussion with Lois Lowry about her book Crow Call. Students might be familiar with Lowry because of her book The Giver.

Take a look below at the scheduled events:

Great Conversation withTim O'Brien
Award-winning author, Tim O'Brien, will be appearing in Grand Forks to discuss his book, "The Things They Carried"
Event Location: Chester Fritz Auditorium, Grand Forks, ND 58201-6324

Date: Thu, Oct 14, 2010
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Book: The Things They Carried

Kids' Big Read Book Discussion of "Crow Call" by Lois Lowry

Story time for children of all ages. Features "Crow Call" by Lois Lowry, the story of a young girl who is reunited with her father after he has been away on military service for an extended time.
Event Location: 2110 Library Circle, Grand Forks, ND 58201-6324

Date: Sat, Oct 16, 2010
Time: 2:00pm – 2:30pm

Book: The Things They Carried

Reading the classics

Friday's installment of Literary Lunches featured the words of Harper Lee's famous character Scout spoken by WDAZ news reporter Brady Mallory. Scout is the narrator of  Lee's classic To Kill A Mockingbird.

Mallory's excerpted the following: When Mrs Dubose insults Atticus Finch, his son Jem destroys her camelias. Dubose demands retribution in the form of Jem coming to read to her every day. Jem is only released from reading each day when Dubose's alarm clock rings. Unbeknownst to Jem, every day she sets the alarm to go off a few minutes later than it did the day before, thus extending the reading time. When Dubose dies a few months later, Jem learns that she had been using this reading time to distract her mind while she weaned herself off morphine, so she could die free and clear, beholden to no one nor anything. Jem learns that even though he thought he was only working off his punishment, he was, in fact, doing a great service to Dubose.

The Big Read, a month of activities, speakers and performances to encourage and celebrate reading, will kick off Monday [today]with a party that will give away copies of The Big Read’s focus book, “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien.
The event launch will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday on the sixth floor of the Grand Forks County Building in downtown Grand Forks. The Big Read is sponsored by the Grand Forks Public Library and other community organizations.
“The kickoff event on Sept. 20 will be an opportunity to learn more about the Big Read and pick up a free copy of ‘The Things They Carried,’” Wendy Wendt, director of the Grand Forks Public Library, said in a news release. (from The Grand Forks Herald)

For more on O'Brien and The Things They Carried, click here.